Gas holder



Patented Jan. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILlBUR G. LAIBD, OF PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORKfASSIGNOB TO DOHERTY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GAS nonnm @ontinuation oi application Serial No. 93,114, filed March 8, 1926. This application filed Kay 25, 1981.,

Serial No. 539,?Qd.

- full continuation.

The type of gas holder in most common use, consists of a tank or water reservoir in which one or more lifts or bells are constructed in such a manner that as the gas is introduced into the holder the lift is elevated and the gas is prevented from escaping by means of the liquid seal at the lower edge of the lift.

For the storage of large volumes of gas in holders of this type, it is common practice to employ themultiple-lift principle as offering a less expensive unit per cubic foot of gas storage capacity. This is explained by the fact that the tank of the holder is the most expensive part of the unit because it must be constructed of material suificiently strong to withstand the hydrostatic head of the sealing liquid, Whereas, the lifts are subjected to bursting strains based on gas pressures sufficient only to elevate them against their own dead weight; such pressures being ver much less than those produced by the static head of the sealing liquid in the tank.

In the application of the multiple-lift principle, the inner or top lift is constructed ,in a manner similar to a single lift except that its lower edge is provide with a cup which-engages the grip of the second or adjacent lift of a series of lifts. Each intermediate lift is provided with a cup at its lower edge and a grip at its upper edge so as' to provide a liquid and gas tight seal between the lift sections. The nesting of the liftsin the tank enables the use of a plurality of telescopic sections approximately equal in height to the depth of the tankand which, when fully elevated, provide a gas storage capacity which may approximate the storage capacity of the inner lift multiplied by the number of lifts. Thus one expensive tank is utilized to function in conjunction with a plurality of less expensive lifts or telescopic sections wherein the gas is stored. Each lift or section as it is lifted above the tank by the gas pressure exerted against the crown of the inner lift, is coupled to the next outer lift and the two lifts so coupled act in their elevation thereafter as a single lift; therefore the telescoping of thelifts as they are lowered and come to rest in the tank may be likened tothe folding or disjointing of a single lift of similar height.

In a multiple-lift holder, it is obvious that the guide-frame provided for guiding the vercc tical movement of the lifts, must be of a height sufiicient to act as a guide for all of the lifts and that it must be strong enough to sup-. port the lifts a ainst all wind strains and normal tipping. at all times must be truly vertical in order to maintain the level of the liquid seal in the elevated cups in a horizontal plane. This guide-frame is a large and unsightly structure; constitutes a large percent of the total to cost of the installation; and due to its type of construction and exposed and elevated character, is costly to maintain. Moreover, any slight foundation settlement or other misalignment is apt to result in guide-frame warpage which may cause the lifts to jamb and the installation to be seriously injured.

'In fact, many cases are on record where foundation settlement has so deflected the guide-frame that the holder couldnot be opfill" erated until much time and money had been expended in realignment. a

The primary object of the present invention is to rovide a means whereby the vertically mova le lifts may be held in proper align- 35 ment without employing the usual heavy and expensive guide-frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guiding means which will permit lifts to be installed in practically any type of tank without requiring special foundation work or other alterations for accommodating a special guide-frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for guiding the lifts of a holder which may be contained within the holder and protected from climatic conditions involving atmospheric oxidation and corrosive reactions.

Another object of the invention is to prov urthermore, the guide-frame 65 vide a guiding means for a gas holder which ment and tankwarpage.

and makes the holder unit more attractive will ermit of quick and easy alignment of the lifts in the event of foundation settlein appearance. 7

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved guiding means for a multiple-lift gas holder as hereinafter illustrated and claimed.

' holder shown in ries of cables, ropes, chains or 0t er flexible lifts 10, 12 and 14 mounted to move up and The various features of the invention are illustrated in the, accompanying drawing, in which: v r i Fig. 1 is a plan view of a multiple-lift gas holder embodying a prefer ed form of the .invention, and

Fig. 2 is a vertircal sectional view of the gas ig. 1. I The lift guiding means embodying the preferred form of the invention com rises a semembers arranged to support and guide the lifts-and to hold the lifts in their proper alignment. Each cable connects all of the held in the 11a in, such gas being introduced by a pipe 30 and withdrawn through pipe 32. As the gas fills the holder the lift rises until it makes connection with the lift 12 then the lifts 10 and 12 rise together until lift 12 connects with lift 14 and then all of the lifts 10, 12 and 14 rise together. As the gas passes out of the holder the lifts move down in the reverse order from that described above. 7

Thecables for guiding the lifts in the above described movement are arrangedin pairs spaced around theperiphery of the lifts and preferably extending diametrically across the lifts. Each pair of cables is mounted and operated inthe lifts and tank in substantially the same manner. Therefore the construction, mounting and opera tion of only one pair of cables will be described. p

One cable 34 of each pair is secured to-a hanger 36 mounted on the rim of the tank 16, then passes down to the bottom and under pulleys 38 and 40, then upto a. pulley 42 mounted under the crown of the lift 10, then passes diametrically across the lift 10 to pul-- ey 44, then passes down and under a pulley 46 mounted on the bottom of the cup 18 of lifts together and its ends are secured to the lift then Passes P Over-a P y 48 tank in sucha manner that the lifts will be constrained to move in vertical paths and m their proper sequence. I

In the drawing is illustrated a common form of multiple-lift gas holder comprisingdown in a tank 16.containing a liquid seal. The bottom of the lift 10 is provided with a cup 18 arranged to receive a grip 20 secured to the top ofthe lift 12. The cup 18 is nor- .-f mally supplied with water from the tank sothat w en the grip 20is in cup 18 a gas tight seal is formed between lifts 10 and 12.

A cup 22 formed around the lower edge of the lift 12 is arranged to receive a grip 24 secured to the top of lift 14. A body of water is always maintained in the cup 22 so that when the grip 24 is in the cup 22 a gas tight seal is formed between lifts 12 and 14. The lift 14 always remains in part .or

- wholly within tank 16 so that its lower edge is sealed by a body of water the level of which is indicated by the dotted line 26. Spacing rollers 23 (Fig. 1) mounted on the inner rim of tank 16 between the tank and lift 14 serve to'hold the outer periphery of the li in roperly spaced relation to the inner perip 'ery of the tank, while other spacing-rollers 25 (Fig. 2) .mounted on the outer rim of each liftcup function to maintain in the nested lift segments in properly spaced positions. r

When there is a small amount of gas in the holder the lifts move down into the tank with their lower edges resting 'upon rest 1 blocks 28 In this position all of the gas is mounted on the top of grip 20 of lift 12, then passes down under a pulley'50 mounted on the bottom of cup 22 of lift 12, then passes up over a pulley 52 mounted on. the top of grip 24 of lift 14, then passes down and under a pulley 54 mounted on the bottom edge of lift 14, then passes up adjacent the wall of the tank 16 to a bracket 56 mounted at the brink of the tank diametrically opposite the anger 36. At the surface of the water 26 the cable 34' may be in the form of a chain 58 to better resist the corrosive action at the place where the cable emerges from the water. The cable 34 is attached to the bracket 56 by means of a bolt 60 which passes through a compression spring 62, the spring acting to maintain the cable taut. The other cable 64 of the pair has one end secured to a hanger 66 mounted adjacent the bracket 56 then passes down to the bottom of the tank under pulleys 68 and 70, then passes'up and over a pulley 72 mounted under the crown of the lift 10 adjacent pulley 44, then passes diametrically across the lift to a pulley 74 adj acent pulley 42, thenpaSses down under a pulley 76 mounted on the bottom cup 18 of lift 10, then passes up to a pulley 77 mounted on the grip of lift 12, then passes down and under 'a pulley-78 mounted on the bottom of the cup 22 of lift 12, then passes up an d over a pulley 80 mounted on the grip of lift 14, then passes down and under a pulley 82 .mounted on the bottom edge of lift 14, then rections as the lifts move up and down. From the hanger 36 to the pulley 40 and from the hanger 66 to the pulley 70 the cables do not move as the lifts move but this construction is used to permit the cables to be readily replaced, repaired or inspected. To replace a guiding cable a new cable is attached to the old guide cable and is drawn into position as the old guiding cable is Withdrawn.

In the drawing only two pairs of cables have been illustrated but it is preferred to use many pairs of cables which may preferably be uniformly spaced around the periphery of the lifts.

The cables are preferably mounted on the inside of the tank and lifts whereby the pulleys and cables are protected from atmospheric oxidation and seasonal storms, corrosion and other conditions which interfere with the operation of the machinery. The

pulleys 4:8, 52, 77 and 80 are mounted on the outside of the lifts but are inside of split sealed housings which communicate with the interior of the lifts.

By arranging the guiding cables as illustrated and described above the lifts are eflcctively supported and guided. The pairs of cables act to effectively hold the lifts againstthe side w nd pressure and confine the move.- ment of the lifts to vertical paths.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a gas holder, a tank, a plurality of lifts independently movable over the tank, and a guide means for the lifts comprising, cables mounted entirely within the tank and lifts, with their ends attached to the tank at opposite sides thereof, said cables connecting all of the lifts together.

2. In a gas holder, a tank, a plurality of lifts independently movable over the tank and a guide means for the lifts. comprising cables mounted on guides so as to move Wholly within the lifts with their ends attached to the tank at opposite sides thereof, said cables connecting all of the lifts together and arranged to constrain the walls of the lifts to move up and down in vertical paths, andliquid seal connecting devices between the lifts arrangedwith said cables to provide for movement of the lifts in succession.

3. In a gas holder, a tank, a plurality of lifts independently movable over the tank and a guide means for the lifts comprising cables mounted within the lifts, each cable having one end attached to the tank, then passing over pulleys attached to the lifts and passing in a path-substantially parallel to the walls of the lifts, then across the top of the top lift and then down to the tank with its end attached thereto.-

4. In a gas holder, a. tank, a plurality of lifts independently movable over the tank and a guide means for the lifts comprising cables mounted within the lifts and arranged in pairs extending substantially diametrically across the tank, each cable having one end attached to the tank, then passing over pulleys attached to the lift in a path substantially parallel to the walls of the lifts, then across the top of the top lift, and then down and having its other end attached to the tank, one cable of each pair running parallel to the walls of the lifts at one side thereof, and the other cable running parallel to the walls of the lifts opposite the position of the first cable. a

5. In a gas holder, a tank arranged to provide-a body of sealing liquid, a gas storage member having a plurality of nested telescopic lifts movably mounted in the tank with its side walls sealed by the sealing liquid so as to trap gas under the crown of the top lift above, the sealing liquid, and guide means for the member comprising flexible cables secured to the tank and guidably connected to the upper and lower parts of the member and movably mounted wholly within said tank and storage member.

6. In a gas holder, a tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a gas storage member having a plurality of nested telescopic lifts movably mounted in the tank with its side walls sealed by the sealing liquid so as to trap gas under the crown of the top lift above the sealing liquid, and guide means for the member comprising a plurality of flexible cables each guidably connected to the member at spaced points around the inner circumference thereof and mounted within said tank and member, each cable having its ends secured respectively to the top and bottom of the tank and being movable intermediate its ends over pulleys attached respectively to the upper and lower parts of each telescopic lift of the storage member.

7. In a gas holder, a tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid,-a gas storage member having a plurality of nested telescopic lifts movably mounted in the tank with its side walls sealed by the sealing liquid so as to trap gas under the crown of the top lift above the sealing liquid, guide means for the member comprising flexible cables distributed in pairs and each having their ends secured to the tank at diametrically opposite points, said cables being mounted wholly within said tank and member on pulleys attached to the upper and lower portions of each lift. y r

8. In a gas holder, a tank arranged to provide a body of sealing liquid, a gas storage member having a plurality of nested. telescopic lifts movably mounted within the tank with its side walls sealed by the sealing liquid so as to trap gas under the crown of the top 1 In testimony whereof l:

new"? lift abovethe sealing liquid, guide means for Y the members comprising flexible cables ope'ratively connected to the tank and to the upper and lower parts of the member and mounted 5 Within the tank and member, spacing rollers mounted between the inner periphery of the tank and the outer periphery of the outside lift, and other spacing rollers, mounted between each adjacent pair of lifts.

I afiix my signature.

UR G. LAIRD.

i so 

